Spinning-ring and method of forming the same.



I. K. LANNING.

SPINNING RING AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAME. APPLICATION FILED DEC. I5. I915.

. Patented May14, 1918.

III/Ill! I wen/Z02": Jams ELM/i21 UNITED STATES PATENT @FFTC.

JA'MES K. LANNING, 0F FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPINNING-RING AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAME.

- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1918.

Application filed December 15, 1915. Serial No. 67,015.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, JAMES K. LANNING, a

. citizen of the United States, and a resident embodiments thereof, and in the specification will point out the best mode known to me for carrying my invention into effect.

In the accompanying drawings:

'Figure 1 is a vertical, substantially central section of a spinning ring embodying my invention and constructed in accordance with the novel method herein claimed;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of' a somewhat modified form of my invention and representing the ring in one stage of its manufacture;

Fig. 3 is a similar view but representing said ring when substantially completed; and

Figs. 4E and 5 are views similar to Figs. 2

, and 3 of a stillfurther modified form of my invention.

This invention in certain aspects thereof is an improvement upon the spinning ring shown in the patent to John V. Cunniff, No. 1,161,900, November 23, 1915, and upon that shown in the patent to James K. Lanning, No. 1,161,697, November23, 1915.

In each of said patents is shown a spinning ring having a thin outer edge. An important object of my invention is to construct a spinning ring having a thin outer edge of stamped sheet metal, in order to lessen the cost of manufacture and for other purposes.

Heretofore so far as I am aware, no successful spinning ring has been produced except by forging, and then case hardened and polished. The

which is machined down ringherein disclosed, however, is, while stamped from sheet metal, commercially successful and is more readily and cheaply manufactured than one made from a forging.

The preferred form of traveler is one formed of mild steel, case hardened. 1300-.

nomical commercial production requires all travelers to be symmetrical in form or double-ended, so that they may be placed upon the ring without any requirement that one end or the other be made the inner end. I

have provided a ring peculiarly adapted to receive a traveler of such double-ended formation, but my invention is not limited to the use of such a traveler.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the spinning ring is indicated generally at 1. While the ring is preferably stationarily mounted upon the ring frame in any usual manner, 1t may be of the so-called rotary type. It is in accordance with the dis' closed embodiment of my invention formed of sheet metal, such as steel or other suitable material stamped into the required shape, and is therefore unitary in character. In

Fig. 1, I have represented a duplex or reversible type of ring, either end of which may constitute the basal flange or support. The ring is adapted to be supported in any suitable manner as upon a basal disk of any suitable material.

The ring is provided with an upright or body portion 2 of suitable height, and upper and lower traveler flanges 3, 4:, which are preferably of the same construction. Each of said flanges is composed of an inner part consisting of an inwardly bent portion 5 and an outwardly bent portion 6 which preferably are in close contact.

The traveler is represented at 7 It is important that the inner end 8 of the traveler shall not, in operation, contact with the body portion 2 of the ring. To that end, each portion 5 is bent and forms a well-defined angle with the body 2, such angle being preferably but not necessarily a right angle. This result,I preferably accomplish by machining the metal, preferably both of the body 2 and of the portions 5 at their meeting points. This removes or avoids any fillet at such meeting point with which the inner end of the traveler might come into contact. The outer surface of the body 2 is provided with two annular channels 9 which are machined into such body at the point where the outer end of the traveler 7 comes into contact with or most nearly comes in contact with the body 2. This prevents the contact of the body and .traveler at this point. By providing the two channels 9, contact between the body 2. and the end of the traveler 7 is prevented, whichever flange of the ring be uppermost.

The top surface 10 of each traveler flange slopes downwardly from the inner upright edge of the flange or from a point adjacent thereto. \Vithin the scope of my invention, the sloping portion of the flange may form a straight, inclined line, or it may be concaved or otherwise suitably formed. Preferably it is either straight or somewhat concaved. The outer edge 11 of each flange is thin, and thus the flange markedly increases in vertical thickness inwardly from such outer edge. The thin outer edge 11 may be in a horizontal plane between the upper and under surfaces of the inner portion of the flange, or such thin outer edge 11 may be below the level of the under surface of the inner part of the flange. It is important, however, that such thin edge be sufliciently depressed to reduce the friction in operation between the traveler and the flange.

In order to form the outer edge thin or substantially sharp, I may and preferably do machine or grind one or both surfaces of the outer portion of the flange, so as to reduce such portion of the flange to a thin or substantially sharp outer edge. T he thin outer edge 11 presents substantially a single circumferential line of contact to the traveler, and the angle or degree of slope of the upper surface of the traveler flange may be varied, but is preferably substantially as shown. The thin outer edge of the traveler flange may be below or substantially below the thicker, upright, inner edge. The top of the traveler flan e slopes upwardly and inwardly to provide a friction reducing, inclined zone. Because of the thin outer edge, the friction upon the traveler is markedly reduced, and hence a higher speed can be obtained as well as an improved character of yarn.

In the rotation of the traveler upon the flange of a spinning ring, it intermittently rises and falls, due probably to very slight variations in the tension of the yarn, and perhaps also to other causes. Such rising and falling action occurs also at the changes in direction of the movement of the ring rail. This is a well known phenomenon. In such rising and falling, the under side of the outer portion of the traveler contacts intermittently with the outer part of the top of the flange of the spinning ring, and frequently to such an extent as to roughen said surface of the flange and even to raise a slight bur thereon. I markedly reduce such contact of the traveler with the upper surface of the flange while at the same time producing a ring at a decreased cost of manufacture in comparison with rings formed by drop forging.

It is common in mill practice to provide a tool for placing the traveler upon the flange of a spinning rin In this operation, the traveler is strained so that it frequently snaps or breaks and falls ofl after short use. lVith my improved ring, it is unnecessary to employ a tool in placing the traveler upon the flange of the ring, and hence the life of the traveler is markedly prolonged. A narrow traveler flange is very desirable. By using a sloping flange as described, Ireduce the friction or drag, and thereby I am enabled to use a narrower flange, inasmuch as the reduction in the drag on the traveler reduces the liability of the traveler to come off. Thus, it is not necessary to employ as wide a flange as heretofore, in order to keep the traveler on.

An important object of the invention is to reduce the metal content of the outside portion of the flange to th smallest amount, both in width and thickness and still keep the traveler from coming ofl. Any reduction in the dimensions of the traveler enables me to use thicker metal in the traveler which will therefore make it wear longer. Thus, by employing a narrower traveler flange, I am enabled to employ a traveler that will wear longer.

The reduction of the friction between the traveler and ring permits the running of either a lighter or a heavier traveler as desired, and such reduction in friction tends toward the successful spinning of soft yarns; that is, a yarn having a lessened number of twists per unit of length.

Because of the sloping upper face of the traveler flange, a larger air space is provided beneath the traveler, whereby the latter is kept free of lint and is kept cool,

and hence is less liable to magnetize or burn off when running at high speed. Furthermore, the thin outer edge of the ring assists in a rapid dissipation of heat generated in the ring incident to the spinning operation.

In order to spin good yarn, the traveler must be of sufficient weight to break the yarn when the sliver is being unevenly delivered by th feed rolls, or, in other words, to break the yarn in all weak places. In spinning coarse yarns or highly twisted yarn, the wider traveler flange may be used, since otherwise the heavy strain would pull the traveler off the ring. In spinning fine or open spun yarns, a narrower traveler flange can be used on account of the lighter tension employed. Inasmuch as fine and open spun yarns will not stand the strain that would be caused by the rotation of the traveler upon the wider flange used in spin ning a coarse yarn, it will be readily appreciated that a reduction of the flange of a spinning ring for making either a coarse yarn or a fine yarn will reduce the strain on the yarn and allow a more free rotation of the traveler. The important factor is to reduce the width of the outer portion of the traveler flange rather than the innerplished on accomit of the free and easy rota- Y tion of the traveler, and I have ascertained in practice that a two-counts lighter or heavier traveler can be used than on the ordinary type of ring.

I am aware of the patent to Edmands, No. 216,731, dated June 24, 1879, wherein is shown a stamped spinning ring, either the inner or the outer portion whereof is of double thickness of metal. The outer edge of the ring .is, however, not of reduced 1 thickness as compared with the thickness of the metal of the flange at any other point, the metal of the flange being of uniform thickness throughout. Moreover the upper surface of the flange is convex and the provision of upper and lower annular shoulders at the outer, relatively thick edge of the traveler flange causes the same to cut into the substance of the traveler.

In Figs. 2 and 3, I have shown a further form of my invention. The ring therein shown is of the same general character as that shown in Fig. 1, but in the initial stage of formation of th ring, the outer portions 12 of the traveler flanges are bent toward each other more abruptly than in the form of ring shown in Fig. 1. After the metal has been stamped into shape, as shown in Fig. 2, I suitably grind off the under surface 13 of both flanges 12 in any suitable manner, so as to produce a thin, outer edge 14. Preferably in effecting this grinding, the under surface of the outer portion of th flange is brought on a horizontal level with or substantially on a level with the under surface of the inner part of the traveler flange. Furthermore I preferably grind or machine the upper or outer surfaces of both traveler flanges, so as to make them either of a straight, inclined character or of a concaved character, while bringing the under and outer surfaces of the inner portions of said flanges to a thin edge 14.

It is evident also that in the form of invention shown in Fig. 1, the upper surface of each traveler flange may be machined or ground in producing the thin, outer edge 11.

In Figs. 4 and 5, I have shown a form of my invention similar to that shown in Figs. 2 and 3, excepting that the ring is not of a duplex or reversible character. Therein the base of the ring is represented at 15, the upright body portion at 16 and the traveler flange at 17, 18, 19, it being of essentially the character shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

An additional advantage arising from the provision of the sloping upper face of the traveler flange is that the increased space upon the upper flange of the ring and the under side of the traveler permits certain enlargements or irregular portions of the yarn to pass through this space without breaking the yarn. In mill practice, it is desirable that minor irregularities should not cause breakage of the yarn. Each breakage means a loss, not only in time but in material, and therefore it is important that the amount of breakage should be reduced, and that it should be caused only by the more serious irregularities in the size of the yarn. This important object incident to the use of a ring having a sloping upper face with a thin, outer edge has been established in the use of such ring under commercial conditions.

Having thus described certain embodiments of my invention and the best mode known to me for carrying the same into effect, I desire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims:

1. A reversible spinning ring stamped or bent from sheet metal and of one piece throughout, said ring having like, upper and lower traveler flanges, either of which may constitute a base, each of said flanges having thin, outer edge which is of less thickness than the normal thickness of the sheet metal, said flange markedly increasing in vertical thickness inwardly from said edge, the top of each flange sloping upwardly and inwardly to provide a friction-reducing, inclined Zone, and the inner edge of the flange being of markedly greater vertical extent than said outer edge.

2. A spinning ring stamped or bent from sheet metal and of one piece throughout, said ring having a traveler flange, the outer portion of said flange being machined or ground to provide a thin, outer edge which is of less thickness than the normal thickness of the sheet metal, said flange markedly increasing in vertical thickness inwardly from said edge, the top of said flange sloping upwardly and inwardly to provide a frictionreducing, inclined zone and the inner edge of the flange being of markedly greater ver- I tical extent than said outer edge.

3. A spinning ring stamped or bent from sheet metal and of one piece throughout, said ring having a traveler flange, the upper and under surfaces whereof are machined or ground to provide a thin, outer edge which is of less thickness than the normal thickness of the sheet metal, said flange markedly increasing in vertical thickness inwardly from said edge, the top of said flange sloping upwardly and inwardly to provide a frictionreducing, inclined zone and the inner edge of the flange being of markedly greater vertical extent than said outer edge.

4. A spinning ring stamped or bent from sheet metal and of one piece throughout and provided with a traveler flange, the body of said ring having a formation to prevent contact of the outer and inner ends of the traveler with the body of the ring in the spinning operat on, said traveler flange having a thin, outer edge markedly increasing in vertical thickness inwardly from said edge, the top of said flan e sloping upwardly and inwardly to provide a trictionueducing, inclined Zone and the inner edge of the flange being of markedly greater vertical extent than said outer edge.

5. A spinning ring having an upri ht body and a traveler flange, the outer surface of the body having an annular groove tor the clearance of the outer end oi the traveler and to prevent contact of said end of the traveler with the body of the ring.

6. A. spinning ring having an upright body and a traveler flange, the outer surface of the body having a circumferential groove for the clearance or the outer end of the traveler and to prevent Contact of said traveler end and said body, and the inner sin lace or the traveler body torining a welldelined angle with the under side of the traveler flange to prevent contact of the inner end or" the traveler with the body.

'4'. A. spinning ring staniped or bent from sheet metal and of one piece throughout, said ring having a traveler flange provided 'ith a machined or ground, thin, outer edge, and the outer wall of the ring having an annular groove for the clearance of the traveler end and to prevent contact of the traveler end with the body of the ring.

8. rr reversible spinning ring stamped or bent from sheet metal and of one piece throughout, said ring ha 'ing upper and lower traveler flanges, either of which may constitute a base, the outer surface of the body of the ring having a plurality of circumferential grooves to receive the traveler end and to prevent contact of said traveler end and the body, each of said traveler flanges having a thin, outer edge markedly and abruptly increasing in vertical thickness from said outer edge inwardly, the top of each flange sloping upwardly or in wardly to provide a frictioirreducing, inclined Zone and the inner edge of the flange being of markedly greater vertical extent than said outer edge.

9. A reversible spinning ring staniped or bent from sheet metal and 01" one piece throughout, said ring having like upper and lower traveler flanges, either of which may constitute a base, each of said flanges having its outer portion machined or ground to provide a thin, outer edge which is of less thickness than the normal thickness of the sheet metal, said flange markedly increasing in vertical thickness inwardly from said edge, the top of each flange sloping upwardly and inwardly to provide a frictionreducing, inclined zone and the inner edge or the flange being of markedly greater vertical extent from said upper edge.

it). A spinning ring having an upright in testimony whereo i nave signed niy name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES K. LANNING.

Witnesses Bonner H. KAMMLER, lnvixo U. TOWNSEND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents,

Washington, I). G. 

